Muzzle.



No. 858,432. PATBNTEDJULY 2, 1907.

N. J. WIGGINTON.

- MUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1906.

3 SHEETS BHEBT 1.

A attozfswql UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed October 24, 1906. Serial No. 340,367.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that NEWTON J. WIGGINTON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Chambersville, in the county of Frederick, in theState of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Muzzle, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a muzzle or guard for animals, and the objectthereof, is to provide a device of this character, which is not onlyefficient and esthetic in constructionand contour but is otherwise verypractical in the adaptation thereof; furthermore the invention comprisesthe vertical'side plates having broad extending side mouth guards, thearched lower jaw elements integral with the side plates, which archedlower jaw elements are suitably adjustable to fit any sized head of anyanimal, a crown strap having its ends suitably secured to the sideplates, said crown strap being suitably adjustable and having a suitablebrow band and throat latch which are also suitably adjustable to fit anysized head of any animal, said side plates also having a nose strapwhich is also suitably adjustable with relation to the head of anyanimal to which the muzzle is attached for the purpose intended, ashereinafter set forth.

The essential and primary object of the invention is to provide a muzzlewhich when in practical use, that is, when the animal raises his head todestroy by eating of fruit trees, vines, or any other agriculturalproduct, which grows above the level of the ground and which is desiredto be preserved, while the animal is pasturing will prevent him fromdoing so, but ordinarily the animal has perfect freedom of his mouthwhen grazing in the pasture; this result is obtained, by providing themuzzle with a weighted oscillatory element, which is approximatelyU-shaped in top view, and L-shaped in side view, which may haveor maynot have a perforated or solid plate, as shown in the drawings to form afront mouth guard, which may be obviously changed or modified, that is,according to the views of the applicant, the side plates are provided attheir lower ends with lateral projecting stops, to limit the oscillatorymotion of the said element.- This front mouth guard is suitablyadjustable, which adjustable feature may be obviously modified, asillustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, or if convenient and desirable maybe otherwise adjustable, such as, by allowing the side arms of theoscillatory element, to be separated from the said front mouth guard,and adjustably with relation thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

All of the adjustable features may be suitably modified, so as to renderthe device simple and practical in the manufacture thereof, and thematerial to be used in the manufacture thereof rests entirely andabsolutely with the parties concerned in the ownership of the device,and suitable to their own convenience.

This device is conveniently and manifestly adaptable for use inconnection with any species of animal, as will be readily and clearlyunderstood. The device not only prevents crop growing a distance abovethe level of the ground, from being destroyed, but also prevents selfmilking, when usedfor that purpose and when weaning young animals thisdevice serves an excellent purpose.

This invention comprises further objects and combinations of elementswhich will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointedout by the appended claims.

To obtain a full and correct understanding of the details ofconstruction, combinations of features, elements and advantages,reference is to be had to the herein after set forth description and theaccompanying draw ings in connection therewith, wherein Fig. l is a viewshowing the improved device worn by an animal, and showing his mouthnear the ground, but showing the oscillatory element in such a positionso that his mouth may have free movement. Fig. 2 is a view showing thehead of the animal thrown up, in an apt position with his mouth inreadiness to destroy vines or fruit trees, but with the oscillatoryelement having the front mouth guard thrown in a position in front ofhis mouth to prevent him doing so. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of themuzzle or mouth guard clearly showing the essential features thereof.Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line -44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view showing the front mouth guard as integral with the armsof the oscillatory element. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showinga modified form of adjustment, for the front mouth guard. Fig. 7. is adetail perspective view showing a modified form of the front mouthguard, in which the arms of the oscillatory element are detachable fromthe said mouth guard, and adjustable with relation thereto. Fig. 8 is ahorizontal section through the arched lower jaw element, showing theadjustable feature thereof, that is the preferable form. Fig. 9 is asectional view on line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a. detail perspectiveview of the arched lower jaw element, showing a modified formofadjustment therefor. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 1111 of Fig.10. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of a completemuzzle or mouth guard. Fig. 13 is a detail view of a modification,showing the throat latch as riveted to the sides of the crown strap.Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view ofa modified form of theoscillatory element. Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 1515 ofFig. 14. Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line 1616 of Fig. 14. Fig. 17 isa detail view of a modified form of the nut and bolt fastening-means,for the sections of the oscillatory element, or for fastening the archedlower jawelements;

Fig. 18 is a detail view showing a modification of connection for thethroat latch, and brow band. Fig. 19 is a detail view showing amodification of adjustment for the members 3 and 4. Fig. 20 is asectional view on line 2020 of Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a section on line2121 of Fig. 18.

Making renewed reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similarreference characters indicate corresponding parts in the severalillustrations, by

figures, l designates the suitable side plates of the muzzle having thebroad extending side. mouth guard 2, which may be or may not beperforated, as shown in the drawings, which broad extending side mouthguard forms suitable means to prevent the animal from working any twigsor leaves or any other part of fruit trees or vines in the side of itsmouth, as will be apparently clear from an inspection of the drawings;these guards also prevent the animal from gnawing the bark from thetrunks of trees.

Integral with the-side plates are the arched lower jaw elements 3 and 4,which lap one another, as shown, and one of which elements is providedwith an elongated slot 5, to receive the shank of the screw 6, which isthreaded in the element 3, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, so as to renderthe arched lower jaw elements suitably adjustable to fit any size head.The adjustable feature for the arched lower jaw element, may beevidently modified in different ways, and within the scope of theappended claims, for instance, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11; thearched lower jaw elements being still lapped in this form upon oneanother, but one of said elements being provided with a metallic strapor loop 7, having a screw 8 threaded therein, which frictionally engagesthe element 4, which moves through the strap or loop 7.

Adjacent to the front where the elements 3 and 4 are integral with theside plates are extensions 9, to which the ends of the nose strap 10,are riveted, which nose strap is provided with a suitable buckle 11, orany other suitable means, so as to render the same adjustablewithrelation to the head of an animal. The lower ends of the said sideplates are provided with lateral projecting stops 12, to limit themovement of the oscillatory element 13, which is, as before stated,U-shaped in top view and L-shaped in side view, and is pivoted, as at14, to the side plates; a portion of said oscillatory element isprovided with weights 15, which operate the said oscillatory elementwhen the animal raises his head, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thearms 16 of said oscillatory element are provided at their lower endswith plates 17 and 18, forming a front mouth guard; this front mouthguard is for the purpose of being thrown in front of the animals mouth,as shown in Fig. 2, and is made in two sections as before stated whichare adjustably held with relation to one another by means of a slot 19,which receives a shank 20 of the screw 21, which is threaded in anaperture 22, of the plate 17, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4 of theaccompanying drawings. If it is possible for the animal, which iswearing the muzzle, to throw his head high enough, so as to throw theoscillatory element over his head, the device just above the broadextending side mouth guards is provided with a stop (1, against whichthe arms 16 of the oscillatory element engages, thus limiting themovement thereof. This front mouth guard may be or may not beperforated, but this feature rests entirely with the discretion of theapplicant, as will be obviously understood.

In Fig. 5 the front mouth guard is made integral with the side arms ofthe oscillatory element; in this Fig. 5, the front mouth guard isextended upward on each side thereof, as at a, as clearly shown. Fig. 6shows a slight modification of the front mouth guard, in which theplates 17 and 18 are made adjustable with relation to one another, byproviding a longitudinal recess 23 in one, the side walls of whichconverge, and a longitudinal rib 24 on the plate 18, to fit the recess23, as shown; in this form the usual screw 21 is used, for frictionallyholding the said plates in adjusted position.

Fig. 7 shows still further a modification of the front mouth guard, inwhich two plates are eliminated; this is accomplished by only using oneplate 24, which is provided with a pair of straps 25 in which isthreaded screws 26, which frictionally hold the ends of the arms of theoscillatory element, that is, after the lateral portions 27 are insertedthrough the straps 25, this allows the said arms to be detachable, butyet adjustable with relation to the mouth guard plate, as illustrated.

The muzzle is provided with the crown strap 23 having a buckle 29, forthe purpose of adjusting the same to different sized heads; the sides ofthe crown strap, which are designated by the numeral 30 are suitablysecured to the side plates, as shown at 31, by means of rivets, or anyother suitable means may be employed. This crown strap has securedthereto a threat latch 32, which is provided with a buckle 33 for thepurpose of adjustment; this throat latch is positioned at a slight angleto the sides of the crown strap, and the ends of which are fastened tothe said crown strap by means of small slots 34, as shown clearly inFig. 3 of the drawings.

The muzzle is provided with a brow band 35 having a suitable buckle, soas to render the same adjustable with relation to any sized head; theends of this brow band are formed into loops 36 which receive the sidesof the crown strap, as shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, forthe purpose of allowing the brow band to have a slight vertical movementthereof.

In Fig. 12 the muzzle substantially as a whole is slightly modified, inas much that the lower jaw element eliminates the adjustable feature,and also the weights of the oscillatory element, are adjustably heldthereon. The side plates in this form are of substantially an invertedL-shaped design, as shown at 37,

each of which is provided with a plurality of slots 38 39 and 40 theslots 38 receive the loops 36 of the brow band, the slots 39 receiveloops 41 of the crown straps, and the slots 40 are designed to receivethe loops 42, as

clearly illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 12, adjacent to the front where the elements 3 and 4are integral with the side plates, are metallic loops 9, to receive theends of the nose strap 10, which is provided with a suitable buckle 1],or any other suitable means, so as to rend er the same ad justablc withrelation to the head of the animal. In Fig. 13, the throat latch 32 issh own as riveted to the sides of the crown strap, as at 44, so as toprevent the brow band from slipping down upon the sides of thecrownstrap, because the brow band is fastened to the sides of the crownstrap by loops, as clearly shown.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate a modification of.a portion of theoscillatory element, in which the plates 17 and 18 are extended up onthe sides, as at 17 and 18, so as to provide more of a complete frontmouth guard; these plates 17 and 18 are also provided with extensions 17and 18 as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings. The front edges ofthe plates 17 and 18 are'turned to form a flange 17 which flange isprovided with teeth 18 so that when the animal throws his head forwardin the act of biting some one, his mouth will come in contact with theteeth of the flange, as will be clearly evident.

Fig. 17 illustrates a modification of the fastening means for thesections of the oscillatory element, or for fastening the arched lowerjaw elements; this fastening means comprises a bolt having the usualhead, a flattened portion 45, the width of which is equal to the widthof the head of the bolt; projecting from this flattened portion is athreaded stud 46, to receive the nut 47 this flattened portion isdesigned to move within the slots 19 of the plates 17 and 18, therebypreventing said plates from turning, as will be clearly apparent from aninspection of the drawings.

In Fig. 18, the throat latch 32 is shown as provided with a loop, to fitthe sides of the crown strap, as clearly shown; each side of this loopis provided with a section of a fastening device d, the outside part ofthe loop carries the socket member of the fastening device and theinside of the loop carries the projection, which extends through theopenings (1 and then into the socket member of the fastening device,that is when the throat latch is adjusted in the desired position, aswill be clearly evident.

Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate a modification of the adjustable feature ofthe lower jaw elements 3 and 4, in

which figures the element 3 is provided with a portion 6, extending atright angles thereto, which portion is provided with flanges e; thisportion e is received by a similar portion f carried by the element 4,as clearly shown; this portion f is also provided with flanges f, whichflanges have ears g which are bent over to prevent displacement of thetwo elements, but will at the same time allow adjustment of the portions0 and f, as will be understood. Extending through the two portions eaand f is a screw h which is designed to have threaded connections with anut h carried between the flanges e of the portion e, this feature justdescribed is designed for the purpose of clamping the two portions whenadjusted.

It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may beemployed in the construction and embodiment thereof, combinations offeatures, and elements, without in any way departing from the spirit andscope of the invention covered by the claims thereof; it beingunderstood that whatever variations or modifications are employed mustfall within the scope of the appended claims.

From the foregoing, the essential features, elements and the operationof the device, together with the simplicity thereof, will'be clearlyapparent.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anduseful by the protection of Letters Patent, is-

1. In a muzzle a pair of side plates, a crown strap, brow band andthroat latch therefor, an oscillatory element and an arched lower jawelement, and means for adjustment therefor said plates having means tolimit the movement of the oscillatory element.

2. ma muzzle, a crown strap having a brow band and throat latch, sideplates secured to the lower ends of the crown strap having extendingside mouth guards, an oscillatory element and an arched lower jawelement having means for adjustment thereof.

3. In a muzzle, a crown strap having a brow band and throat latch, sideplates secured to the lower ends of the crown strap having broadextending side mouth guards,

an arched lower jaw element having means for adjustment thereof, anoscillatory element pivoted to said side plates and having parallel sidearms and means for adjusting the said arms laterally.

4. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates, a crown strap secured theretohaving a brow band and throat latch, an oscillatory element pivoted tosaid side plate and having side arms, a front mouth guard secured to thelower end of the said arms and means for adjusting the front mouthguard.

5. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates, a crown strap secured thereto andhaving a brow band and throat latch, means carried separably by saidcrown strap, brow band and throat latch for adjustment thereof, saidside plates having broad extending side mouth guards, a weightedoscillatory element pivoted to said side plates, said side plates havinglateral projecting stops to limit the oscillatory motion of saidelement.

6. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates, a crown strap se' cured theretoand having a brow band and throat latch, means carried separably by saidcrown strap, brow band and throat latch for adjustment thereof, saidside plates having broad extending side mouth guards, a weightedoscillatory element pivoted to said side plates, said side plates havinglateral projecting stops to limit the oscillatory motion of saidelement, said oscillatory element having side arms and an adjustablefront mouth guard carried by said arms.

7. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates,.a crown strap, brow band andthroat latch therefor, means carried separably by said crown strap, browband and throat latch for adjustment thereof, an arched lower jawelement having means for adjusting the same, said side plates havingbroad extending side mouth guards, an oscillatory element, the said sideplates having lateral projecting stops to limit the oscillation thereof.

8. In a muzzle, a framing composed of side plates having an arched lowerjaw element, means for adjusting the same, a crown strap, brow band andthroat latch for said frame, said side plates having a nose strapsecured thereto, an oscillatory element having means for adjustmentthereof.

9. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates, a crown strap, brow band andthroat latch therefor an arched lower jaw element composed of two parts,one of said parts having an elongated slot; the other having a screwthreaded therein adapted to clamp the two parts together, said sideplates having a nose strap secured thereto, and means for adjusting saidnose strap and a Weighted oscillatory element for said muzzle.

10. In a muzzle, a pair of side plates having broad extending side mouthguards, said side plates having a crown strap, a brow band and throatlatch for the crown strap, means carried separably by said crown strap,brow band and throat latch for adjustment thereof, said side plateshaving an arched lower jaw element composed of two sections, one ofwhich has an elongated slot; the other having a screw threaded therein,said screw adapted to extend through said slot so as to clamp the twosections together, said side plates having extensions, a nose strap theends of which being secured to said extensions, means for adjusting saidnose strap, an oscillatory element pivoted to said side plates, saidside plates having means to limit the oscillation thereof, saidoscillatory element having parallel arms, an adjustable front mouthguard carried by said arms, said oscillatory element havingsubstantially right angled arms extending thereto and weights carriedthereby.

11. A muzzle having side plates; a crown strap; brow band; throat latch;nose strap; and an arched lower jaw element; and a weighted oscillatoryelement having means for adjustment thereof.

12. A muzzle having side plates; a crown strap; brow band; throat latch;nose strap; and an arched lower jaw element a weighted oscillatoryelement having means for adjustment thereof; said plates having meansfor limiting the movement of the oscillatory element in eitherdirection.

13. A muzzle having side plates; a crown strap; brow band; throat latch;nose strap; and an arched lower jaw element a weighted oscillatoryelement having means for adjustment thereof and means for adjusting thebrow band and throat latch upon the crown strap.

14. A muzzle having side plates; a crown strap; brow band; throat latch;nose strap; and an arched lower jaw element; a weighted oscillatoryelement; and means for adjusting the brow band and throat latch upon thecrown strap.

In witness whereof, the applicant's signature is hereunto aflixed in thepresence of two witnesses.

NEWTON .T. WIGG IN'ION.

Witnesses:

ROBERT A. Boswnnn, JOHN R. WIGeIN'roN.

